Protective case for tablet electronic device

ABSTRACT

A protective case for a tablet electronic device includes a main body to enclose a tablet electronic device, a cover rotatably connected to the one side of the main body, and a hand receiving portion connected to the inside surface of the cover. The cover can be detachably locked to the main body in a fully open position where the cover contacts the backside of the main body, and in a closed position where the cover covers a display of the tablet electronic device. When using the tablet electronic device, the cover is locked to the main body in the fully open position, and a user puts a hand into the hand receiving portion to support the tablet for use.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to protective cases for tablet electronic devices and, particularly, to a protective case for preventing a tablet electronic device from being dropped by the user.

2. Description of Related Art

Tablet electronic devices like tablet computers are very popular. For protecting tablet electronic devices from being scratched, some protective cases have been made available on the market. A typical protective case remains attached to the tablet electronic device when the tablet electronic device is in use. A user usually uses one hand to support the tablet electronic device, and operates the tablet electronic device with the other hand. However, because of the size and weight of the tablet electronic device, there is a risk of the tablet electronic device being dropped from the user's hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

All the views are schematic.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a protective case for a tablet electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the protective case of FIG. 1, together with a tablet electronic device being put into the protective case.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing the tablet electronic device fully received in the protective case, and a cover of the protective case rotated to a position underneath a main body of the protective case.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but showing the cover further rotated to a fully open position.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the protective case and the tablet electronic device therein inverted, showing the cover of the protective case being rotated toward a closed position.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but showing the cover further rotated to the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references can mean “at least one.”

FIGS. 1-6 show a protective case 1 of the embodiment. The protective case 1 includes a main body 10 for enclosing a tablet electronic device 100 (see FIG. 2, hereinafter called a tablet 100), a cover 11 rotatably connected to the main body 10 for covering a display of the tablet 100, and a hand receiving portion 12 connected to an inside surface of the cover 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the hand receiving portion 12 is a glove 12. The glove 12 is connected to the inside surface of the cover 11 by at least a palm portion of the glove 12.

The main body 10 of the protective case 1 includes a back board 101, four sidewalls 102 extending up from four edges of the back board 101 to wrap four sidewalls of the tablet 100, and four elongate tabs 103 protruding inwardly from the tops of the sidewalls 102 to wrap a bezel of the display of the tablet 100. The main body 10 is made of elastic and flexible material, and the sidewalls 102 can be elastically deformed. Therefore it is easy to put a tablet 100 into a receiving space cooperatively defined by the back board 101, the sidewalls 102 and the tabs 103. The cover 11 is made of flexible material, and the glove 12 is also made of flexible material. In the embodiment, the main body 10 is made of flexible rubber or resin material, the cover 11 is made of leather or flexible rubber, and the glove 12 is made of elastic cloth.

The cover 11 is rotatably connected to one of the sidewalls 102 (hereinafter called “hinging sidewall” 102) of the main body 10, and can undergo 360-degree rotation relative to the main body 10. That is, the cover 11 can be rotated between a closed position in which the cover 11 covers the display of the tablet 100, and a fully open position in which the cover 11 contacts the back board 101 of the main body 10. In the embodiment, the cover 11 is rotatably connected to the hinging sidewall 102 of the main body 10 by a hinge (not shown). In other embodiments, the hinge can be replaced with a piece of flexible material.

The side of the cover 11 away from the hinge includes an elongate locking portion 110. The locking portion 110 is attached to a main panel (not labeled) of the cover 11 via an elongate connecting portion (not labeled). A linear junction where the locking portion 110 adjoins the connecting portion is flexible, such that the locking portion 110 is bendable relative to the connecting portion. A linear junction where the connecting portion adjoins the main panel is flexible, such that the connecting portion is bendable relative to the main panel. The locking portion 110 can detachably engage with one of the tabs 103 (hereinafter called “engaging tab 103”) that is on one sidewall 102 of the main body 10 opposite to the sidewall 102 having the hinge. The locking portion 110 can also detachably engage with a side portion of the back board 101, hereinafter called an engaging portion 104, which is opposite to the sidewall 102 having the hinge. Thereby, the locking portion 110 can lock the cover 11 to the main body 10 in either the fully open position or the closed position, as required. When the cover 11 is locked to the main body 10 by the locking portion 110 engaged with the engaging tab 103, the cover 11 is in the fully open position. When the cover 11 is locked to the main body 10 by the locking portion 110 engaged with the engaging portion 104, the cover 11 is in the closed position.

In the embodiment, an elongate magnet 111 is arranged on an inner side of the locking portion 110, and a number of magnets (or ferromagnetic metal pieces) 112 are arranged on an inner side of the engaging tab 103. The magnet 111 can attract the magnets 112 of the engaging tab 103, thereby facilitating the locking of the cover 11 to the main body 10 in the fully open position. A number of magnets (or ferromagnetic metal pieces) 112 are also arranged on an inner side of the engaging portion 104 of the back board 101. The magnet 111 can attract the magnets 112 of the engaging portion 104, thereby facilitating the locking of the cover 11 to the main body 10 in the closed position.

When using the tablet 100, the cover 11 is rotated from the closed position to contact the back board 101, and the locking portion 101 is folded onto the engaging tab 103 and engaged with the engaging tab 103. The cover 11 is thus held in the fully open position, with the cover 11 locked to the main body 10 by the engagement of the locking portion 110 with the engaging tab 103. A user then puts one hand into the glove 12, and thus can easily support the tablet 100 with such hand, with little or no risk of dropping the tablet 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the user puts his/her left hand into the glove 12.

When the user is finished with the tablet 100, the user can take his/her hand out of the glove 12 and disengage the locking portion 110 from the engaging tab 103. The cover 11 can then be rotated to cover the display of the tablet 100, with the locking portion 101 being folded onto the engaging portion 104. The cover 11 is thus held in the closed position, with the cover 11 locked to the main body 10 by the engagement of the locking portion 110 with the engaging portion 104.

In other embodiments, the glove 12 can be replaced with another kind of hand receiving structure, such as a rectangular cloth with three edges connected to the inside surface of the cover 11. A hand receiving space is defined between the rectangular cloth and the cover 11, with an opening of the hand receiving space defined at a fourth edge of the rectangular cloth. A user can put one hand into the hand receiving space via the opening.

Although certain embodiments have been specifically described, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the present embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective case for a tablet electronic device, the protective case comprising: a main body to enclose the tablet electronic device, the main body comprising: a back board; four sidewalls extending from four edges of the back board, for wrapping four sidewalls of the tablet electronic device; and four tabs protruding inwardly from tops of the sidewalls, for wrapping a bezel of a display of the tablet electronic device; a cover rotatably connected to one of the sidewalls of the main body and configured to cover the display of the tablet electronic device; and a hand receiving portion connected to an inside surface of the cover, the hand receiving portion being configured to receive a hand of a human user.
 2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the cover is connected to the one of the sidewalls of the main body by a hinge.
 3. The protective case of claim 2, wherein a side of the cover away from the sidewall having the hinge comprises a locking portion; the cover is rotatable between a fully open position and a closed position; and the locking portion is configured to engage with one of the tabs opposite to the sidewall having the hinge when the cover is in the fully open position, and engage with a side portion of the back board opposite to the sidewall having the hinge when the cover is in the closed position.
 4. The protective case of claim 3, wherein a magnet is arranged on an inner side of the locking portion, at least one magnet is arranged on an inner side of the tab opposite to sidewall having the hinge, and at least one other magnet is arranged on an inner side of the side portion of the back board opposite to sidewall having the hinge.
 5. The protective case of claim 4, wherein a magnet is arranged on an inner side of the locking portion, a plurality of ferromagnetic metals are arranged on an inner side of the tab opposite to sidewall having the hinge, and another plurality of ferromagnetic metals are arranged on an inner side of the side portion of the back board opposite to sidewall having the hinge.
 6. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the main body is made of flexible rubber.
 7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the main body is made of flexible resin material.
 8. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the cover is made of flexible leather.
 9. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the cover is made of flexible rubber.
 10. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the hand receiving portion is a glove.
 11. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the glove is made of elastic cloth.
 12. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the glove is connected to the inside surface of the cover at least by a palm portion of the glove. 